Advice on Glasses for Shooting

[Jo_Smith]

Well I find myself at the point that contacts are no longer clearing up my vision enough to be able to see targets and reticles clearly enough to grow in the sport.

I am trying to figure out what the general option here is for glasses shapes and if the transition shading lenses are the way to go.

I know a lot of the shooters here wear glasses, I am trying to get an idea of what to tell the eye doc when I go in.

Also is it best to have one pair of glasses just for shooting and another pair for everyday. Moving back to glasses is going to take some getting use to.

Thanks everyone for the input

 

[K22]

I could never adapt to those transition lenses, but some like them. I found my head bobbing around try to get a clear sight which I could never manage. I have bifocals which give me a defined sight area and I have had no difficulty shooting a scoped rifle for over 30+ years with bifocals.

If you go the bifocal route, the one piece of advice I would offer is get lenses large enough, so you have a large enough vertical viewing area for each area of the bifocal. The other critical issue is the height of the near distance part of the bifocal. Any competent Optimist can fit you properly.

 

[Mark W]

I could never adapt to those transition lenses, but some like them. I found my head bobbing around try to get a clear sight which I could never manage. I have bifocals which give me a defined sight area and I have had no difficulty shooting a scoped rifle for over 30+ years with bifocals.

If you go the bifocal route, the one piece of advice I would offer is get lenses large enough, so you have a large enough vertical viewing area for each area of the bifocal. The other critical issue is the height of the near distance part of the bifocal. Any competent Optimist can fit you properly.

@K22 I think you are confusing transition lenses with progress lenses. Transition lenses are the ones that change color and darken when you go in sunlight and progressive lenses are basically bifocal without the distinct line between the lense sections.

With that said, I agree with your assessment of progressive lenses. A friend and I both bought progressive lenses around the same time. My Optometrist told me that if i were going to purchase them, that I should commit to wearing them for one month whether I needed them or not. She stated that it takes time, but the brain will eventually adjust and work with the lenses. My friend didn’t get that advise and he was constantly putting his on and taking them off. Like you, he never could get used to them he and eventually ended up having regular bifocal lenses put into his frames. I also agree that progressive and standard bifocals both need to be large enough to work for shooting. My second pair of progressive lenses were too small and I never could shoot with them.

 

[JFrank]

Also is it best to have one pair of glasses just for shooting and another pair for everyday.

I keep a pair of non transition glasses for shooting in my range bag.

 

[madmixerman]

I wear progressive lenses. When I shoot I take them off and wear regular safety glasses, I adjust the scope to where I can see perfectly.

 

[Mark W]

Well I find myself at the point that contacts are no longer clearing up my vision enough to be able to see targets and reticles clearly enough to grow in the sport.

I am trying to figure out what the general option here is for glasses shapes and if the transition shading lenses are the way to go.

I know a lot of the shooters here wear glasses, I am trying to get an idea of what to tell the eye doc when I go in.

Also is it best to have one pair of glasses just for shooting and another pair for everyday. Moving back to glasses is going to take some getting use to.

Thanks everyone for the input

I spoke to my optometrist about this topic during my last checkup. He suggested Ray Ban Shooter glasses. They are basically Aviator styled frames with a pretty big lense. They aren’t really my style, but I could deal with it for shooting.

I did a lot of research on transition lenses before I bought my first pair of prescription glasses and i decided against them.

 

[Walt Krafft]

If your problem stems from growing cateracts, get them fixed! I like Decots with a lined bifocal. Clear with an anti reflective coating is what I am using now. Lite rose is also nice.

 

[jpx2rk]

I wore contacts for years, but gave them up after I got tired of chasing the cheater/readers down all the time. Went to progressive lenses, and it did take a bit of time to adjust, but not too long. I also had progressive tri-focals as my eyes went south, and then tried the auto darkening ones, and these never bothered me while shooting. I don't shoot LR BR, just RFBR but I do go out west for pdogs and rats when possible. Again, never any issues with seeing the target(s) clearly. I just had to adjust the scope focus ring for MY eyes, no one else could see thru 'em. LOL I had cataract surgery on both eyes 18 months ago, with a couple sessions of laser shots to clear up some floaters in each eye. I started having issues seeing my wind flag as clearly as I thought I needed, especially the one farthest from the bench (~40yds) and went to a discount eyeglass place with my prescription, got 2 pair of "shooting glasses" that allow me to see the 40yd flag better/clearer and my scores did improve in RFBR. I have the progressive tri-focals in these glasses, and wear them only during RFBR matches, and it takes me about 30-60 seconds to adjust to them when I put them on. I don't take them off during the matches/between cards as i can walk & talk with them on just fine.

 

[leakeyjohn]

I have astigmatism and I am severely near sighted. I have worn contacts and conventional glasses and shot with all of them. All of them work each has a list of drawbacks and positives. Glasses work great except you have to clean or clear the lenses regularly. Snow and or ice with glasses work. Contacts are great however in dusty conditions however require googles… Contacts no good for wilderness overnight adventures (ask me how I know) Extended wear contacts I have no experience with

 

[BoydAllen]

Years ago, I got some good advice from an optometrist. I was starting out with bifocals. She suggested that the line be lower than standard so that the reading part would not get in the way. That has worked for me very well for 30 years. I think that transitions thing is all about disguising the fact that you need bifocals. I happen to like bifocals. One of the things that I would recommend is to have a separate pair of glasses for shooting for two reasons . If your regular glasses are auto darkening, making your scope image darker seems to be undesirable, and lots of stylish glasses do not give proper coverage to function as safety glasses. I am always amazed when I see people who seem to be intelligent in other respects on an active firing line without eye protection.

 

[CJ6]

I have transition lenses and I'm quite happy with them for shooting. If you shoot under covered benches they lighten up quickly. If you shoot uncovered you'll be fine with the tint.
For driving I use a set of polarized clip ons as the window tinting prevents the lenses from darkening as they should.

 

[Blackthorn]

I looked for an optometrist that specialized in sports particularly shooting sports. Luckily I found one in my area. He is a great guy and a competitive shooter so he understands when I tell him my issues. When I was fitted for glasses he had me bring my shooting gear in so he could help make the right choices.

You might want to look up Pilla distributors in your area and check with any optometrists that might sell them. I know they are shotgun oriented but they work great shooting F-Class

 

[LCazador]

Well I find myself at the point that contacts are no longer clearing up my vision enough to be able to see targets and reticles clearly enough to grow in the sport.

I am trying to figure out what the general option here is for glasses shapes and if the transition shading lenses are the way to go.

I know a lot of the shooters here wear glasses, I am trying to get an idea of what to tell the eye doc when I go in.

Also is it best to have one pair of glasses just for shooting and another pair for everyday. Moving back to glasses is going to take some getting use to.

Thanks everyone for the input

I would suggest going to an opthamologist instead of an optomotrist if you're over 50. Whichever doc you choose send your RX to Morgan Optical in New York and have a pair of Randolph Ranger shooting glasses made with your RX. They understand where the optical focus should be for shooting. They can also add a bifocal at the bottom of the lens so it's not in the way of shooting vision. There are several tints available as well as clear.

 

[Straightshooter1]

Well I find myself at the point that contacts are no longer clearing up my vision enough to be able to see targets and reticles clearly enough to grow in the sport.

I am trying to figure out what the general option here is for glasses shapes and if the transition shading lenses are the way to go.

I know a lot of the shooters here wear glasses, I am trying to get an idea of what to tell the eye doc when I go in.

Also is it best to have one pair of glasses just for shooting and another pair for everyday. Moving back to glasses is going to take some getting use to.

Thanks everyone for the input

In just one word. . . LASIK.

 

[Jo_Smith]

Well PRK and lasik arr both options but the doc said that with the stigmatisms I have that it wont clear up every thing and she said that with the correct glasses that she could fix it all and tighten up my vision.

So I am not sure what to do.

Currently I am considering the glasses for a quick fix for some late season shooting and looking at surgery early next year.

 

[Dimner]

Well PRK and lasik arr both options but the doc said that with the stigmatisms I have that it wont clear up every thing and she said that with the correct glasses that she could fix it all and tighten up my vision.

So I am not sure what to do.

Currently I am considering the glasses for a quick fix for some late season shooting and looking at surgery early next year.

I hear you about lasik. with astigmatisms the lasik correction will also not last as long. So basically I decided to go the glasses route. I went that way because I like to have the best clarity possible. Also, if you can afford it, you can always get a normal pair of glasses (progressives or bifocal) for everything else and then get a pair of shooting glasses without the dual lenses. I'm due for bifocal/progressives, and that's what I plan to do. I do not want parts of my lenses that are not usable while sitting at the bench. People go with this approach alot for different hobbies. Some people have three sets of glasses. One progressives/bifocal, and a pair of close and a pair of far. My dad, a goldsmith has the progressives and the close glasses. wears the close ones at work. All of his work is within 16 inches of his nose.

Just some food for thought.

 

[Kittitas George]

My glasses have fairly large lenses and bifocals with a line. One pair is dark sun glasses the auto-darkening, In my shooting box are a couple of pair of welders safety glasses, with bifocals and different color tints. The glasses have the right numbers for shooting safety, and different bifocal powers are available. the last purchase was less than $20.

 

[K22]

@K22 I think you are confusing transition lenses with progress lenses. Transition lenses are the ones that change color and darken when you go in sunlight and progressive lenses are basically bifocal without the distinct line between the lense sections.

With that said, I agree with your assessment of progressive lenses. A friend and I both bought progressive lenses around the same time. My Optometrist told me that if i were going to purchase them, that I should commit to wearing them for one month whether I needed them or not. She stated that it takes time, but the brain will eventually adjust and work with the lenses. My friend didn’t get that advise and he was constantly putting his on and taking them off. Like you, he never could get used to them he and eventually ended up having regular bifocal lenses put into his frames. I also agree that progressive and standard bifocals both need to be large enough to work for shooting. My second pair of progressive lenses were too small and I never could shoot with them.

Thanks for the clarification - you're correct, I was referring to "progressive" lenses. My small brain never could adapt to them. I got neck strain trying focus from near, intermediate to long distance.

 

[Bill K]

I wear the progressive and transition lenes in my eye glasses and I am on my second pair over the last six years. I have had no issues with using them when shooting, weather it be target or hunting with my rifles while shooting, etc.

 

[pilediver]

I have a brand new pair of glasses with every option my optometrist could add to them. Transition bifocal coated blu blocker and they are great! I tried the progressive lenses and just couldn't stand them.
I got glasses with a large lense to allow a large bifocal and really like them.
The newest transition lenses change so quickly it's easy to get used to